BY PAUL BARTON
Enquirer Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON -- Several prominent Cincinnatians are listed as $10,000 donors to the National Democratic Party during the first quarter of this year, the party's campaign contribution report showed Thursday.
Many of the contributions were dated close to the March 10 fund-raiser in Cincinnati held by lawyer Stanley M. Chesley and attended by President Clinton.
However, there was no specific listing correlating donors with those who attended the fund-raiser.
Mr. Clinton helped the Democratic National Committee take in $12.4 million in campaign contributions in the first three months of 1998.
The money helped the committee pare its debt to $9.3 million, or $6.7 million if the party's cash-on-hand is counted. National Chairman Steve Grossman said the party is on a strong enough financial footing to promise financial support for candidates in tough races this fall.
"We're ready to make some significant investments in the 1998 campaign," Mr. Grossman said.
The list of $10,000 givers from the Cincinnati area included:
- Anthony D. Battaglia, president of Chiquita Brands.
- Gary Heiman, president of Standard Textiles.
- James B. Helmer, attorney.
- Mark E. Knue, vice president of Victory Wholesale.
- William Markovits, attorney.
- Martin Pinales, attorney.
Steven Stein, president of the Belvedere Group, was listed as giving $12,000.
Ashvin Gandhi of West Chester, owner of Brandy's Lounge, was also listed as a $10,000 giver.
Other Cincinnati givers listed included: Douglas A. Clemons, president of Clemons Capital Group ($5,000); Michael A. Fisher, president of Prem Manufacturing ($3,000); and Melvyn Fisher, chairman of Texo Corp. ($3,000).
Prominent givers from Northern Kentucky included Lanny R. Holbrook, attorney in Covington ($5,000); Nancy Holbrook, homemaker in Fort Mitchell ($5,000); Paul Rogers of Dry Ridge, president of Quatros Inc. ($5,000); and Wayne Carlisle of Wilder, president of Carlisle Construction ($10,000).
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
